Cotton cleaner and distributer.



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J. W. SEIFEBT.

COTTON CLEANER AND DI'STBIBUTER.

(Application filed Apr. 18, 1901.)

D5 2 Eg ':z

No. 682,8rs.

(No Model.)

ULO

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IJOHN W. SEIFERT, OF WACO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO WACO COTTON MACHINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COTTOYN CLEANER lANDv DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 682,816, dated September 17, 1901.

Application inea April 1e, 1901.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SEIFERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waco, in thecountyof McLennan, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .Cotton Cleaners and Distributers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a cotton cleaner and distributer, and particularly to means for pneumatically elevating the cotton, removing the dirt therefrom, and automatically discharging a quantity of said cotton when collected in the distributer.

The invention has for its object to improve the construction of pneumatic distributers, whereby when the cotton has collected upon the cleaning-screen the suction-pressure will be partially cut off by means of an automatic floating valve and the cotton automatically discharged when the air-pressure is relieved therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for immediatelyr restoring the parts to their normal position in the operation of the device, thus rendering the collection and dischargeentirely independent in its operation of any regulation by the operator.

A further object is to provide means for automatically discharging the dirt or dust removed from the cotton at such times when the suction is removed fromrthel apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearin the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in Athe appended claims. A

In the drawings, Figure 1 is avertical section through the apparatus, showing the parts at rest in full lines and when under pressure in dotted lines; and Fig.A 2 is is a detail elevation showing the regulator for the floating valve.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout both gures of the drawings.

The distributer is composed of a collectorcasing A of any desired shape or configuration and having at its upper portion a passage 5o A', communicating at one side with atrunk or pipe A2, leading to a source of supply for Serial No. 55,699. (No model.)

cotton or other desired material to be operated upon, and at its opposite side with a corresponding trunk or pipe A3, communicating withany desired source of air-suction, as customary in this class of devices. Itwill be obvious that these trunks may communicate Vwith a series of collectors A, which may be multiplied dependent upon the amount of work to be performed. Extending downward from the upper portion of the passage A and into the body of the collector A is a screen B, preferably. curved in outline, so as to deflect the cleaned cotton downward into the chamber. The lower portion of this screen is connected to an inclined discharge-floor B', communicatingwit-h a chute B2, forming a discharge forthe dirt or dust removed from the cotton, which chute is provided with a'pivoted door B3, which is normally held closed by' the`airsuction through the apparatus and automatically opens by gravity into the position shown in full lines when such suction is removed. Y

At the lower portion of the collector a flexible valve C is' provided, which may be formed of fabric or any other desired 'material Vand is mounted upon an odset C', extending circumferentially of the collector A, so as to give the necessary width to this valve when open. .The liexible Valve C yis provided at suitable points upon its sides with openinglevers C2, pivoted-tothe oset C', as shown at C3, and having their upper'free ends C4 connected to the collector A by means of restoring-springs C5, which when placed under tension restore the levers to a vertical position, as shown by full lines. It is obvious, however, that any suitable equivalent of these springsimay be applied to the levers for the purpose of restoring them to the vertical position. p For the purpose of automatically control` ling and regulating the air suction or pressure upon the body of cotton drawn into contact with the screen a floating valve D is 1ocated between said screen andthe trunk or pipe leading to the suction means. l This valve is pivoted in any suitable mannerfor instance, at its upper end, as shoWnatD and this pivoting-shaft has applied theretoa counterbalance comprising a rod D2 upon the IOO exterior of the case extending at an angle to the valve and provided with adjustable weights D3, by means of which the pressure or suction required to operate the valve may be varied, dependent upon the adjustment of these weights.

In the operation of the invention the cotton to be cleaned and distributed is drawn by suction into contact with the surface ot the screen, (the parts heilig in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that the suction-pressure automatically closes the flexible valve C and the dust-discharging door 133,) thereby removing from the cotton the dust and dirt contained therein, the heavier particles of which will be deposited upon the inclined floor B, communicating with the chute B2. When a quantity of cotton has collected upon the face of the screen, the passage of air through said screen is diminished, so that the oating valve D closes against the' remaining air-pressure by its own gravity or assisted by the counterbalance-weight D2 and is held by its inertia, so as to momentarily cut off all the suction, permitting the cotton to drop away from the screen and fall into the lower portion of the collector A. It will be seen that when a quantity of cotton collects in the flexible valve C the air-suction on such valve is cut off by the body of material, so that said valve may be opened by the weight of the cotton and the levers C2, assisted by their restoring means, which normally hold the valve in an open position, as shown by full lines in Fig. l. It will be understood that the collection of cotton upon the screen does not completely cut of the air from the pipe C3; but the valve D is so Weighted or adjusted as to close automatically against the reduced air-pressure when sufficient cotton has collected upon the surface of the screen to prevent a thorough cleaning of the cotton. At the time when the suction is thus cut o suihcient air passes through the screen to equalize the pressure upon both faces thereof, and the door B3 of the dirt-chute automatically opens, permitting any material collected therein to pass therefrom by gravity. This automatic closing of the floating valve also prevents any back pressure, which is liable to occur when a body of cotton is collected upon the screen and in the collector A. As soon as the cotton has dropped from the screen the valve D begins to open and under the highest air-pressure stands in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. The position of this valve is constantly changing, dependent upon the pressure of air, which varies according to the amount of cotton collected upon the screen, and is entirely independent of any, regulation or operation by the operator using the machine. It will be obvious that if the valve be secured in its closed position the machine will be rendered inoperative, which is often desired when a series of machines are. connected to operate in connection with a single cotton trunk or pipe and suction-pipe. The valve-governor is adjustable for various pressures of air due to dierences in size and speed of the fans or other suction-producing devices used. The lighter dust will be carried out to the suction device, while the heavier substances,'such as sand and gravel from the cotton, iall into the inclined chute and are automatically thereby discharged, thus obviating the necessity of cleaning the same by hand. The improved construction of liexible valve also obviates any diculty in opening this valve, as the restoring means for the levers are suitably adjusted to open the valve when a predetermined quantity of cotton has collected therein, sufficient to prevent the action of air from continuing to draw inward the walls of the valve.

With a machine of this character cotton in any of the ordinary conditions can be successfully treated and automaticallydeposited in the desired receptacle, while the dirt is removed therefrom, all of which operations are automatically performed.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and coniiguration ofthe several parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. In a device of the class described, the combination with a collector-body, of a pneumatic couveyer communicating therewith, a screening-surface disposed in said conveyer, and aco unterbalanced valve located between said screening-surface and the suction device of the couveyer and adapted to automatically close to cut off said device by the collection of material upon said surface; substantially as specified.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a collector-body having at its lower end a flexible valve, levers secured to said valve, an offset from said body to which said levers are pivoted, and restoringsprings adapted to retain said levers in a vertical position; substantially as speciiied.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a collecting-chamber hav'- ing a screen therein, cotton and air pipes communicating with the opposite sides of said screen, and a fioating valve between said screen and air-pipe freely pivoted at one end for oscillation; substantially as speciiied.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a collecting-chamber having a screen therein, cotton and `air pipes communicating with the opposite sides of said screen, a floating valve between said screen and air-pipe freely pivoted at one end for oscillation, and a counterbalance carried by the pivot of said valve; substantially as specified.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a collecting-chamber having a screen therein, cotton and air pipes IOO communicating with the opposite sides of said screen, a iioating valve between said screen and air-pipe freely pivoted at one end for oscillation, a counterbalance carried by the pivot of said valve, and a dirt-chute disposed at the lower end of said screen and provided with a pivoted door adapted to automatically open when said valve is closed; substantially as specified.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a collectingchamber having a screen therein, cotton and air pipes communicating with the opposite sides of said screen, a floating valve between said screen and air-pipe freely pivoted at one end thereof for oscillation, a counterbalance carried by the pivot of said valve, a dirt-chute disposed at the lower end of said screen and provided with a pivoted door adapted to automatically open when' said valve is closed, a iiexible valve at the lower end of said collector, and means for normally holding said valve in an open position; substantially as specified.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a collecting-chamber having a screen therein, cotton and air pipes communicating with the opposite sides of said screen, a floating valve between said screen and air-pipe freely pivoted at one end thereof for oscillation,x a counterbalance carried by the pivot of said valve, a dirt-chute disposed at the lower end of said screen and provided with a pivoted door adapted to automatically open when said valve is closed, a flexible valve at the lower end of said collector, pivoted levers connected to said flexible valve, and means for normally retaining said levers in a vertical position to open said valve; substantially as specified.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a collecting-chamber having a screen therein, cotton and air pipes communicating with the opposite sides of said screen, a iioating valve between said screen and air-pipe freely pivoted at one end thereof for oscillation, a counterbalance carried by the pivot of said valve, a dirt-chute disposed at the lower end of said screen and provided with a pivoted door adapted to automatically open when said valve is closed, a llexible valve at the lower end of said'col; lector, pivoted levers connected to said'iiexible valve, and springs connected to the upper free ends of said levers and to the fixed sup; port; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. SEIFERT: Witnesses:l

H. W. NAGE'n, H. A. BYBEE. 

